System for managing orders and method of implementation
First Claim
1. A system for efficiently processing customer orders, comprising:
- means for receiving customer orders;
means for processing customer orders;
means for automatically checking inventory for availability of customer orders;
means for retrieving goods from inventory to create loads;
means for efficiently building loads; and
means for efficiently scheduling loads to customers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The system of this invention manages customer orders and using vendor supplied software systems interfaced on a real-time basis to touch the data in each system on a real time basis. In effect, there is horizontal communication between the various components of the system such as inventory, purchasing, order management and receipt, logistics and inventory to have continual data flow without using a vertical software interface. As a result, customer orders are received on a real-time basis using screens that are user friendly to promptly take orders and to verify customer data and verify the ability to meet those orders. Transmission of documents within the system is minimized thereby making it more efficient, timely and cost efficient.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A system for efficiently processing customer orders, comprising:
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means for receiving customer orders;
means for processing customer orders;
means for automatically checking inventory for availability of customer orders;
means for retrieving goods from inventory to create loads;
means for efficiently building loads; and
means for efficiently scheduling loads to customers.
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2. A system for efficiently purchasing items, comprising:
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means for creating blanket vendor orders;
means for user input to requisition items;
means for processing requisition requests by comparing said requisition requests against blanket vendor orders for availability of items;
means for checking the availability of funds against budget to approve transactions;
means for communicating purchase request and purchase release to vendor; and
means for acknowledging purchase request. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A method for creating a graphical user interface for a customer service representative to efficiently input orders, comprising:
creating screens in a window context with multiple files, said screens having buttons to control access to files;
using said buttons to access customer records.
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6. A method of managing a logistic system comprising the steps of:
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creating a network data base;
downloading customer order data to terminals to create load criteria;
assembling loads based on pre-established criteria;
routing loads based upon predetermined delivery criteria; and
generating data to assemble said loads.
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7. A method for tendering loads to carriers for shipment comprising the steps of:
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creating a carrier data base with information necessary to determine shipping costs and delivery schedules;
tendering an offer of shipment to a selected carrier in a predetermined format; and
receiving confirmation from a carrier.
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8. A method for creating an automated warehousing ticket comprising the steps of generating a pick-order;
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picking items from inventory;
creating a record of the picked items;
transmitting said order information to a central data base in real time;
delivering the picked items to shipping point;
transmitting data of delivery of items for shipment to said data base; and
consolidating the pick and shipment information into a record in said data base.
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9. A method for creating an electronic catalog comprising the steps of:
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requesting vendor quotations;
creating blanket vendor orders;
entering blanket vendor orders in a data base;
creating pre-approved budgets;
creating purchase requests;
requesting items from the blanket vendor order data base;
communicating said orders to vendor;
receiving acknowledgment of order requests;
receiving ordered items; and
recording receipt of said items.
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Specification